Lipoatrophy & senile purpura

[deibster]

Hi,
I posted this under "Lipodystrophy" with a limited response so I'm posting it under LTS. I've been poz since '93 & have always been on the thin side. I was on Zerit for a few years which is known to cause Lipoatrophy, but at the time, when I failed AZT, we didn't know that. I am 57 yrs old & have NO fat layer on my arms & hands.
    In the summer of 2009, I was taking Ibuprofen and/or aspirin for sinusitis. I know that they tend to thin your blood; I ending up bleeding into my lungs & came down with pneumonia. I lost another 15 lbs and am down to the weight that I was in the military 30 years ago. I am otherwise healthy (CD4 700, VL undetectable), but I get black & blue blotches on the back of my forearms for no reason, even when I don't remember banging or scraping against anything. Of course, I am concerned about getting pneumonia again or another bleeding-associated problem.
    Does anyone have any similar experiences? My infectious disease doctor has no suggestions for me except to put on weight. I have put on several lbs but it all goes into my guts & doesn't help the bruising on my arms. There is a little info on AidsMeds about immune thrombocytopenia purpura & once your hiv is under control it should go away. Everything else that I've found is about low platelet counts which I do NOT have. Any info would be appreciated. I'm sorry for being so longwinded!  Hugs, Deibster in Provincetown

[BT65]

Hi Deibster,

I don't have the bruising problems, but I do have the loss of fat problems, mostly in my legs.  The lower legs especially.  The lower left leg has excessive fat loss, making it hard for me to drive my 5-speed car.  I also have pretty severe neuropathy in the feet, which also makes it hard, because sometimes I can't feel the clutch.  And with the wasting, when I try to hold in the clutch, I get pretty bad cramps in my left lower leg.  I don't know the answer to putting the weight back on, and like you, if I gain, it's in the tummy.    Good luck trying to find the answer to your bruising.  What does your doctor say about this?  Just that it's due to the fat loss?  You may want to push the issue if it becomes severe. 

Betty